Process of desulfurizing and dephosphorizing coal or ores



Patented lan. 24 |899. J. W. KENEVEL. PRDGESS 0F DESULFURIZING ANDDEPHOSPHDRIZING COAL 0R (JRE/S.

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(Application led Aug. 7, 1897.)

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PATENT `JEANNOT IV. KENEVEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THEKENEVEL- COKING-PROCESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS 0F DESULFURIZING AND DEPHOSPHORIZING COAL 0R ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,104, dated January24, 1899.

Application filed August 7, 1897. Serial No. 647,433. (No specimens.)

'o @ZZ whom) t may concern:

Be it known that I, JEANNOT W. KENEVEL, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,have discovered certain new and useful Improvements in the Process ofDesulfurizingand Dephosphorizing Coal or Ores, of which the following isa description.

The effect of the application of my im- 'proved process to sulfur andphosphorus bearing coals and ores is the elimination and removal of alarger percentage of those deleterious elements than has heretofore beenpossible and that in a simple, effective, and economical manner.

In carrying out my process the coal or ore to be treated is charged intoa suitable oven or retort and sufficient heat applied to cause theliberation of the volatile elements. As those elements are liberated oneor more jets of steam (preferably superheated) or hot air carrying acomparatively small percentage of a vaporized acid solvent of sulfur orphosphorus is discharged into the body of coal or ore preferably in sucha manner as to necessarily pass through the whole body of the same. Thesulfur and phosphorus liberated by the combined action of the heat andthe acid solvent vapor, together with the gases and volatile elements,are carried out of the charge and the oven by the current of steam orair, which is of sufficient force for that purpose. The gases and otherby-products may then be secured by means now wellknown and not necessaryto be described.

The acid solvent which I have commonly used with success and which Iprefer on account of its effectiveness and low cost is acetic acid, andit may be successfully employed in the form of good commercial vinegar.The acid is preferably fed into the steam or air pipes at a pointsufficiently remote from the oven to allow of its Vaporizing andincorporating with the steam or air, or, in other words, becomingthoroughly and evenly mixed with and to a certain extent saturate thesame. The action upon the charge of coal or ores is therefore uniformthroughout the entire body. The superheating of the steam or airfacilitates this equal distribution and at the same time prevents thecooling of the charge and the consequent retarding of the process.

For the purpose of clearly explaining my process I have shown one formof apparatus adapted for such use; but it will be understood that I donot limit myself to any particular form of apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference-letters indicatelike or corresponding parts, Figure l is a longitudinal section withparts broken away to show the construction, and Fig. 2 is a transversesection in line 2 2 of Fig. l.

The coal or ore to be treated is placed in the retort A through thecharging-openings a. The products of combustion from the furnace B passup through the fiues C, which are arranged on either side of the retort,and are connected at their upper ends to the return-fines C', Fig. 1,the lower ends of which communicate with the flues D on each side of theretort. In the Iiues D are placed the superheating-pipes d, which pipesare connected with the main steam or air pipe E, leading from thegenerator, (not showm) if steam be employed in the process, or from asuitable air-supply under pressure if air be employed.

Below and on eachside of the retort are arranged the pipes F, connectingwith the superheating-pipes d, and provided with a series of nozzles f,through which the saturated air or steam is discharged into lthe retort,preferably near the bottom of the charge. Suitable valves c and c2 areprovided for the purpose of controlling communication between the mainsupply-pipe E and the superheating-pipes CZ and also between the latterand the pipes F. A suitable tank 0r receptacle G for containing a supplyof acid is arranged to discharge its contents into the pipe E. Asuitable valve g is so arranged as to control the iiow of the acid intothe pipe E, which acid will be immediately vaporized and become mingledwith the current of air or steam in said pipe and be carried forwardtherewith into the retort.

The retort is provided with an outlet II, by which the gases may becarried to the hydraulic main I, which is of well-known construction. Itis also provided with an outlet IOG y2 sienne J, provided with a valveu, through Which the steam or air, together With the liberated gases,may, if preferred, be permitted to escape through the pipe N, ashereinafter set forth.

Having thus briefly Vdescribed the form of apparatus which I preferablyemploy, I Will 'now proceed to give the steps constituting my improvedprocess.

The retort Ahaving been charged with the coal or ore to be treated heatis applied, and as the temperature of the charge rises the hydrocarbonand lighter sulfur-gases which are liberated first escape from theretort, preferably by the outlet H into the hydraulicmain I. As therising temperature approaches the point at which the denser sulfurgasesbegin to be liberated and preferably before the flaming-point isreached, the valves o2, r3, and g are opened, the valve g' being openedonly slightly to permit the acid in the tank G to pass slowly into thepipe E. The steam or air in the superheating-pipes on its Way to thepipe F will vaporize and carry along with it in a minute state ofsubdivision the acid which escapes from the tank G, thus saturating theair or steam, as stated. The steam or air thus charged with the acidsolvent is forcibly discharged into the retort near the bottom of thecharge through the nozzles f in the form of jets and is under sufcientpressure to cause the jets to quickly penetrate the charge and escapefrom the retort through the outlet H or the outlet J. The acid thuscarried into the retort acts as a solvent for the sulfur and phosphoruscontained in the charge, and the elements of the air or steam willcombine partially with 4the sulfur or phosphorus, forming sulfu rous andphosphorous compounds, which will escape from the retort through theoutlet H or J, the uncombined sulfur being mechanically carried outtherewith by the current of air or steam. This treatment need notnecessarily be continuous during the liberation of the volatileelements. In some cases the steam or air may be introduced for shortperiods at intervals; but it is better that the introduction of thesteam or air be discontinued as soon as the charge is freed from itsvolatile elements, especially When coal is under treatmentin themanufacture of coke. In such case if the steam or air be introducedafter the coal is coked the quality of the coke will be seriouslyimpaired and reduced in quantity.

The exact time at and during which the air or steam should be introducedwill, Within the limits above stated, vary considerably with therefractoriness of the coal or ore under treatment; but these points willbe readily determined by a skilled operator.

In the form of apparatus shown it Will be observed that the retort isclosed and preliminarily heated externally. This form, though preferred,may be modified Without departing from the spirit of my invention. HenceI do not limit myself to such, the broad idea of my process consistingin liberating the volatile elements from the charge by means of heat andduring this step subjecting the charge t the action of a hot gascontaining oxygen, such as steam or hot air charged or saturated with anacid solvent of metalloids, such as sulfur or phosphorus.

I Wish it understood that the terms employed in this specification areintendedl to embrace steam, gaseous steam, or other hot gases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described process of desulfurizing and dephosphorizingcoal or ores, which consists in subjecting the charge While in a heatedcondition and during the liberation of the volatile elements to theaction of steam charged With an acid solvent of a metalloid such assulfur or phosphorus, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described process of desulfurizing and dephosphorizin gcoal or ores, which consists in subjecting the charge While in a heatedcondition and during the liberation of the volatile elements to theaction of super-Y heated gas charged with an acid solvent of a metalloidsuch as sulfur or phosphorus, sub-4 stantially as described.

3. The herein-described process of desulfu r-' izing and dephosphorizing coal or ores, which consists in forcing superheated gas charged withan acid solvent of a metalloid such as sulfur or phosphorusthrough thecharge dur; ing the liberation of the volatile elements,` substantiallyas described.

at. The herein-described-process of desulfur# izing and dephosphoriz'ingcoal or ores which consists in subjecting the charge while in a heatedcondition and during the liberation of the volatile elements to theaction of a heated gas charged with acetic acid, substantially asdescribed.

5. The herein-described process of desulfur= izing and dephosphorizingcoal or ores which consists in forcing superheated steam charged withacetic acid through the charge of coal or ore during the liberation ofthe volatile elements, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described process of desulfurizing or dephosphorizing coalor ores, which consists in subjecting the charge While in a heatedcondition and during the liberation of the volatile elements, to theaction of hot gas containing oxygen and charged with an acid solvent ofmetalloids such as sulfur or phosphorus, substantially as described.

7. The herein-described process of desulfuriz'ing or dephosphoriziugcoal or ores, which consists in subjecting the charge while in a heatedcondition and during the liberation of the volatile elements, to theaction of hot gas containing oxygen and charged With acetic acid,substantially as described.

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S. Theheren-doscribedprooessofdesulfurizng coal or ores which Consistsin forcing 1o zng o1' dephosphorizing coal o11 ores, which superheatedgas charged with an acid solvent consists in forcing superheated gascont-aini of sulfur through the charge duringthelibela.- ing oxygen andCharged with an acid solvent tion of the Volatile elements,substantially as of metalloids, such as sulfur or phosphorus, described.

through the charge during the liberation of JEANNOT XV. KENEVEL. thevolatile elements, substantially as de- W'tnesses: scribed. OHAs. A.MURPHEY,

9. Thehereindesoribed process of desu1fur= JOSIAH H. MEAD.

